It’s Memorial Day weekend. The day, of course, is a somber one, but the weekend itself marks the beginning of summer for so many families. With that in mind, Weekend Family Fun: May 21-25 has three ways to honor fallen soldiers and to learn about American history. It also offers some virtual ways to welcome summer.
Any-Day Fun
#FrontYardCookout
Oscar Mayer, the hot dog maker and originator of the Wienermobile, has partnered with Feeding America to give meals to the hungry during this time. They are encouraging backyard barbecue throwers to take the party out front, tweet or post with the #FrontYardCookout hashtag and join in the give-back effort. Check their website for more details and also Wienermobile photos that will surely make the kids laugh. oscarmayer.com
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
Safe at Home is the oh-so-perfect name of the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s pandemic programing. Listen to oral histories, find out about Negro League, read about women in baseball and more. We really like their Starting Nine challenge that lets kids check out nine “must-see” artifacts from their favorite teams.
One Corny Place
Do your kids know there is a palace made out of corn? That’s a good story to share over corn over the cob at this weekend’s cookout. The palace is in Mitchell, South Dakota and kids can grab a look right here.
Break out that Hawaiian shirt
The Autry Museum of the American West in Los Angeles offers Aloha Fridays, an exhibition—a tribute—really to Hawaiian, or lava, shirts. Young fashionistas can read the stories and the history of summer’s most popular shirt, and their home-schooling parents will appreciate the museum’s other virtual resources.
Free Family Sundays at Home
We shared this last week, but thought the Baltimore Museum of Art’s effort was worth mentioning again when last Friday’s craft instructions were posted. A shaped canvas! How’s that for a cool project for your little creator? OK, here’s the intel: The BMA has taken their popular free Sunday art workshops and made them virtual. Visit here to sign up for new art projects emailed to families every Friday or simply visit their website. Recent projects have included a rain stick, watercolors made from coffee and a soap carving. artbma.org
Friday
Lift Every Voice Virtual Book Club: Author Laura Gehl
At this online book club, author Laura Gehl reads her dog story “My Pillow Keeps Moving.” Then Gehl shows readers how to make their own sock dog pillow. Ages 4-8. The Ivy Book Shop, 10-10:30 a.m. Visit the shop’s website for the link to join. theivybookshop.com
Drive-Thru Strawberry Festival
It’s the season to sink your teeth into Maryland’s best red berries. Weber’s Cider Mill Farm in Parkville is hosting its annual strawberry festival this weekend and next, but with a pandemic twist. It’s a drive-through experience. Strawberry treats will be sold 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Friday through Sunday. Produce and make-your-own strawberry breakfast boxes also can be ordered online and picked up on these days. For more information or to get in that order, visit weberscidermillfarm.com
Memorial Day
National Memorial Day Parade: America Stands Tall
While many towns have canceled their Memorial Day events, the American Veterans Center understandably wanted to continue to honor the day. For the past 15 years, the center has hosted the nation’s largest Memorial Day event, a parade in Washington, D.C. This year it hosts a television special that will air at 2 p.m. on Memorial Day. Visit the organization’s website for the full broadcast schedule. americanveteranscenter.org
Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Why do we have Memorial Day? One researcher answers that question for kids. Check out that essay here. The museum also a fun article on the Star Spangled Banner, including the Maryland connection and info on the trail, which can be explored virtually. Got a kid who really likes history? Read this diary of a Civil War nurse. And here’s an exhibit on submarines.
National Mall
Today you kids also can visit the National Mall and other memorial parks in our National Park System right here.